Where the World's Views of America Come into Focus
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Where the World's Views of America Come into Focus
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By Irina Demchenko
March 25, 2005
Askar Akayev knew that in Kyrgyzstan, a "velvet revolution," was being prepared, and even who was financing it, but did not believe it would occur.
He spoke of his conviction that such a turn of events was impossible in January. At the time, he was in Moscow visiting with leaders of the Russian press media.
Akayev believed that he had the support of the people, not only on the north of the country, but also in the south, where many in the Uzbek diaspora live. He was convinced that the opposition lacked a bright leader, who could obtain the support more than 3-6 percent of the population, and that only his candidature would serve as a compromise between the north and south of the country.
During January, Akayev came to Moscow to present his son to the Moscow elite, and introduce him as a candidate for the parliament, who is elected in two phases, the first in February, and the second in March.
"Those who intend revolution, have already given it a name," Akayev said. "The Tulip Revolution."
"During the second phase of Parliamentary elections, the Tulip Revolution will begin. The color of the revolution is yellow, because tulips by nature, are wild yellow," Akayev told the newspaper editors in January.
According to Akayev, the money to fund the 'Tulip Revolution' came from outside the country. He even named the source of most of the funding, - an organization called Freedom House. He also pointed to other international groups that support democracy in developing countries. Akayev also made of point of saying that the Soros Fund was not such a channel.
"Freedom House has the largest printing facility in Kyrgyzstan, where all opposition newspapers are printed," he said.
Akayev did not try to hide the dependence of Kyrgyzstan on credits from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which in some ways tied his hands with respect to the activity of international groups on the territory of Kyrgyzstan.
But at the same time he was confident that the color of the Tulip Revolution was not a color that Kyrgyzstan would become accustomed to. Akayev repeated several times that the people of his nation were hereditary nomads, not so subject to radical ideas, as are the more the "Europeanized" people of the Ukraine and Georgia.
"If we have revolution, then it will not pass as quietly as in the Ukraine. There will be a civil war. Kyrgyzstan will be split between the north and the south. ... I now have the support of 42 percent of the people, especially in the south. In Kyrgyzstan you do not hear people yelling out such calls as in the Ukraine - 'Kuchma - Get Out!' Here, no one shouts 'Down with Akayev!'" - the President of Kyrgyzstan said in January.
Only two months later, crowds of demonstrators yelled in front of the presidential residence "Akayev, get out."
Akayev said in January that all he expected from Russia was "moral" support. Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Akayev can count on being welcomed in Russia.